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 3/8/98 Good morning.... +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ To have a resurrection there must first be a death. If we want to walk in the resurrection life of Jesus, we must be willing to lay down our lives for Him. +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ Good Morning My Precious Brethren!!! HAPPY RESURRECTION!! Man, I got a surge in my heart today!! I have a SUPER surprise for you, my friends! I have a "Guest Writer" for this special "Resurrection Devotional." I am sharing my "comments" section with the man I share my life with..and I am greatly THRILLED to do so! He blesses me so much with his heartfelt sermons! He always likes to bounce them off me before he shares with the congregation. It's kinda like I get a sip of the stew from the pot before it is served. My eyebrows slowly raise as it hits my tastebuds....and the first thing I do...is grab a bowl! So, friends, get you bowl and a spoon...and dig in! But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor 2:9 A party was the last thing Mary Magdalene expected as she approached the tomb on that Sunday morning. The last few days had brought nothing to celebrate. The Jews could celebrate--Jesus was out of the way. The soldiers could celebrate----their work was done. But Mary couldn't celebrate. To her the last few days had brought nothing but tragedy. Mary had been there. She had heard the leaders clamor for Jesus' blood. She had witnessed the Roman whip rip the skin off his back. She had winced as the thorns sliced his brow and wept at the weight of the cross. In the Louvre there is a painting of the scene of the cross. In the painting the stars are dead and the world is wrapped in darkness. In the shadows there is a kneeling form. It is Mary. She is holding her hands and lips against the bleeding feet of the Christ. We don't know if Mary did that but we know she could have. She was there. She was there to hold her arm around the shoulder of Mary the mother of Jesus. She was there to close his eyes. She was there. So it's not surprising that she wants to be there again. In the early morning mist she arises from her mat, takes her spices and aloes, and leaves her house, past the Gate of Gennath and up to the hillside. She anticipates a somber task. By now the body will be swollen. His face will be white. Death's odor will be pungent. A gray sky gives way to gold as she walks up the narrow trail. As she rounds the final bend, she gasps. The rock in front of the grave is pushed back. "Someone took the body." She runs to awaken Peter and John. They rush to see for themselves. She tries to keep up with them but can't. Peter comes out of the tomb bewildered and John comes out believing, but Mary just sits in front of it weeping. The two men go home and leave her alone with her grief. But something tells her she is not alone. Maybe she hears a noise. Maybe she hears a whisper. Or maybe she just hears her own heart tell her to take a look for herself. Whatever the reason, she does. She stoops down, sticks her head into the hewn entrance, and waits for her eyes to adjust to the dark. "Why are you crying?" She sees what looks to be a man but, he's white---radiantly white. He is one of two lights on either end of the vacant slab. Two candles blazing on an altar. "Why are you crying?" An uncommon question to be asked in a cemetery. In fact, the question is rude. That is, unless the questioner knows something the questionee doesn't. They have taken my Lord away, and I don't know where they have put him." She still calls him "my Lord." As far as she know his lips were silent. As far as she knows, his corpse had been carted off by graverobbers. But in spite of it all, he is still her Lord. Such devotion moves Jesus. It moves him closer to her. So close she hears him breathing. She turns and there he stands. She thinks he is the gardener. Now, Jesus could have revealed himself at this point. He could have called for an angel to present him or a band to announce his presence. But he didn't. "Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" He doesn't leave her wondering long, just long enough to remind us that he loves to surprise us. He waits for us to despair of human strength and then intervenes with heavenly. God waits for us to give up and then---surprise! Has it been a while since you let God surprise you? It's easy to reach the point where we have God figured out. We know exactly what God does. We break the code. We chart his tendencies. God is a computer. If we push all the right buttons and insert the right data, God is exactly who we thought he was. No variations, No alterations. God is a jukebox. Insert a tithe. Punch in the right numbers and---bam---the divine music we want fills the room. I look across my desk and see a box of tissues. Ten minutes ago that box sat in the lap of a young woman---midthirties, mother of three. She told me of the telephone call she received from her husband this morning. He wants a divorce. She had to leave work and weep. She wanted a word of hope. I reminded her that God is at his best when our life is at its worst. God has been known to plan a celebration in a cemetery. I told her, "Get ready, you may be in for a surprise." Have you got God figured out? Have you got God captured on a flowchart and frozen on a flannelboard? If so, then listen. Listen to God's surprises. Hear the rocks meant for the body of the adulterous woman drop to the ground. Listen as Jesus invites a death-row convict to ride with him to the kingdom in the front seat of the limo. Listen as the Messiah whispers to the Samaritan woman, "I who speak to you am he." Listen to the widow from Nain eating dinner with her son who is supposed to be dead. And listen to the surprise as Mary's name is spoken by a man she loved---a man she had buried. "Miriam." ( Aramic form of Mary ) God appearing at the strangest of places. Doing the strangest of things. Stretching smiles where there had hung only frowns. Placing twinkles where there were only tears. Hanging a bright star in a dark sky. Arching rainbows in the midst of thunderclouds. Calling names in a cemetery. "Miriam," he said softly, "surprise!" Mary was shocked. It's not often you hear your name spoken by an eternal tongue. But when she did, she recognized it. And when she did, she responded correctly. She worshipped him. The scene has all the elements of a surprise party---secrecy, wide eyes, amazement, gratitude. But this celebration is timid in comparison with the one that is being planned for the future. It will be similar to Mary's, but a lot bigger. Many more graves will open. Many more names will be called. Many more knees will bow. And many more seekers will celebrate. It's going to be some party. I plan to make sure my name is on the guest list. How about you? "The Celebration" Taken from:
Six Hours One Friday JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§ The one who really believes in the resurrection in his heart becomes increasingly focused on laying up fruit for eternal life. When we really believe, we will begin to build that secret relationship with the Father, not wanting anyone but our Father to know about our alms or prayers. When our treasure really is being deposited in our "heavenly bank account," then where our treasure is, there will our hearts be also. (Matt. 6:21) Rick Joyner JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§ Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Seeing as this Sunday is Easter, we will be celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord. I know what you are thinking, and I agree...as Christians we celebrate his birth, life, crucifixion, his resurrection and the hope of his return every day...Man...THAT'S ENOUGH TO SHOUT ABOUT!!!!!! I wanted to share some scriptures with you today, and through the Holy Spirit, hopefully give you some new revelation or insight. This scripture is out of the Song of Solomon, and I can just envision God the father that morning.....looking down at Jesus......in a cold dark tomb for those three days. It must'a seemed like and eternity for God...but read what is said.......and feel the love and life that flows from God.... Song 2:13-14 How loving a father God is.....how beautiful the scene is as the tomb is shaken....by the strongest force known...LOVE!!!!! As life returns to Jesus....as death gives way to life, defeat gives way to victory, fears permanently replaced with hope....what a sight!! Guards trembling, devils fleeing, angels rejoicing....and on the Father's face, a smile forms, while in his eyes, tears flow.....That which had been lost to death and sin...has been returned...never more to taste death or sin again....What love he has...not only for His Son...but for YOU!!!!! You see.....all this was done for one reason...to bring you home...... 1 Cor 15:45 You see...when God created us..he breathed his Spirit in us..made us alive...different from all other creatures....and when sin came...it cut us off from God.....but.....that little seed is still there....waiting to be wooed by the Holy Spirit. Ready to be resurrected, brought back to life...Brought back to God....and just as God called down to his Son...dead in a tomb...He calls to us today....bringing back life to us that was dead in sin. When we listen, when we respond.....He forgives, and brings life. Listen to him now...He's calling........Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away....an invitation to come home.....Won't you listen? Please Listen!!!! This Sunday...or even right now...remember what God gave up for you....remember what he did for you.....know what he wants to do for you.....He wants to bring you home. God Bless Y'all! JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§ Me again, Brethren! Whew! Thanks Sweetheart! Wait, before you go...we have desert! Did you save your spoon? I want to take a second to thank Sister Lori for allowing me to have free access to her BEAUTIFUL poetry. Consider this last part an "Invitational Hymn." God Bless you all and have a wonderful RESURRECTION CELEBRATION!!!! In Christ!! BORN AGAIN When you are born again inside you believe your Savior is Jesus Christ, He died on the cross to pay for your sins, And in resurrection has given you eternal life. He will then cleanse you from the inside, like a coffee cup left unclean overnight. He will scrub away all the muck and grime until you're left with a beautiful shine. And when people look at your face they
will know that something has changed, though outwardly
what they see is the same. In your heart you have renewed
your faith, which shows the world that you've been saved.
John 3:16-17 In Christ!!
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